Advice for first-year students

I graduated in the Class of 2010 and can easily remember my first few hours, days, weeks, and months on campus that began in August, 2006. I want to share some advice as you begin your college experience!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions – I am an extrovert but when you go to college, there is a sense of excitement and nervousness that could make you more quiet than you usually are. Push that all aside.

Introduce yourself – Be the person who says hi first. Do your best to remember the person’s name so when you see them on campus, you can say hi. That will be remembered.

Take deep breaths – A lot happens at college. There are people to meet, clubs to join, parties to attend, chores to do, and of course going to class and studying. This can become overwhelming.

Don’t change – One of the best pieces of advice that was given to me was from my grandfather who said, “don’t ever change.” He still reminds me of this today. Be the person you want to be and not who you think you should be. Do the things you want to do and not what others tell you to do.